Automatic icemaking machine



July 14, 1953 Q PLOEGER 2,645,095

AUTOMATIC ICEMAKING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR.

July 14, 1953 c. E. PLOEGER 2,645,095

AUTOMATIC ICEMAKING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

warra/m fy Patented July 14, 1953 AUToMaTIo ICEMAKING MACHINE Clyde E. Ploeger, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a. corporation of 1 Delaware Application May 13, 1950, Serial No. 161,827

The present invention relates to icemaking machines of the type having a chambered ice forming mold'and more particularly to an arrangement to facilitate the cleaning of the mold.

Many cities have ordinances relating to the handling of edible products which require the equipment used to be cleaned at stated intervals. Such ordinances apply to ice making machines and the cleaning of a chambered mold having a large number of cubicle cells presents a problem of considerable magnitude.

One of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide a construction and arrangement of elements in an ice making machine for cleaning an ice forming mold by actively agitating a cleaning fluid therein to thoroughly clean all of its surfaces and draining the cleaning fluid from the mold after a cleaning operation.

Another object of the invention is to utilize certain of the ice formingelements of the machine for performing a cleaning operation:

Still another object is to provide a control for the machine which may be manually actuated to discontinue an ice freezing and" releasing operation and initiate a mold cleaning operation.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and not a definition of the limits of the inven-' tion, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims. In thedrawings: I

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an ice makin machine having a; chambered mold adapted for cleaning by the construction and arrangement of elements constituting the present invention; I

' Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the mold and showing the operating mechanism for raising and lowering the platenfiand; actuating the agitator;

' Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the motor and reduction gearing unit of the platen operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the agitator operating mechanism; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 9-5 of Fig. 2 and showing the perforated agitator plate in the platen and the connection to its operating mechanism; l Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the Scotch yoke arrangement for reciprocating the agitator plate;

Fig; 7 is a perspective'view of the top of the platen showing the perforated agitator plate mounted-thereimand- 9 Claims. (01. 62-4) Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of an electric control circuit for the ice making machine and showing the manual control for discontinuing an ice making operation while continuing opera-.

tion of the agitator plate.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows an ice making machine comprising a freezing mold 9 in theform of an inverted metal tray having a top and depending sides with cross partitions l0 therein forming a plurality of adjacent cells H. The partitions [0 are joined to the top and side Walls of the mold and to each other as by brazing, soldering or welding and are of less depth than the depending side walls of the mold. a

A platen I2 is pressed against the depending side walls of the mold 9 by an operating mechanism, later to be described, to close the open bottom of the mold and provide as pace between it and the bottom of the partitions In. Water or other liquid to be frozen is supplied to. the interior of the mold 9 by a funnel tube l3 projecting upwardly from the topwall of the mold and underlying asupply pipe l4 controlled by a solenoid operated valve IS. A standpipe I6 is connected to one side of the mold 9 and a ball float I! in the standpipe is adapted to operate a switch I 9 to control the actuation of water valve [5. I

The mold 9 is successively cooled and heated by a serpentine coil [9 mounted on its top wall. Coil l9 has straight sections overlying the partitions l9 and curved end portions connecting the straight sections. Preferably, the coil I9 is attached in good heat conducting relation to the top wall of the mold 9 as by brazing, soldering or welding it thereto. One end of the coil I9 is connected to'the refrigerant receiver 20 of a compression type refrigeration system by a conduit ZI having an expansion valve 22 therein. The opposite end of the coil I9 is connected by a conduit 23 tothe suction side of a compressor 24 driven by an electric motor 25. The high pres: sure side of the compressor 24 is connected to a condenser 26 by a conduit 21 and the outlet from the condenser is connected to the receiver 20. A by-pass conduit 28 also is connected between conduit 21 at thehigh pressure side of compressor 24 and the inlet end of coil I9 and a solenoid operated selector valve 29 is provided at the juncture of the coil and conduits 2| and 28. Selector valve 29 connects conduit 2| to coil l9 through expansion valve 22 when the solenoid is deenergized and connects by-pass conduit 28 directly to the coil 19 when the solenoid is energized,

Platen I2 is mounted adjacent one side of mold 9 for downward and rocking movement to an inclined position below the mold. Trunnion pins 30 project from the opposite sides of the platen l2 and into one end of links 3|, see Figs. 1 and 2, and the opposite ends of the links are pivot l y connected to suitable supports 32. Adjustable stops 33 limit the pivotal movement of the links 3! on supports 32 to regulate the downward movement of the platen l2 relative to the mold 9.

The mechanism for operating the platen l2 comprises a lever 34 pivotally connected to a bracket 35 at one end, an adjustable push rod 36 connecting the opposite end of the lever to the bottom of the platen and a cam 31 for rocking the lever, see Fig. 2. Cam 31 is mounted fast on a cam shaft 38 rotatable in bearing blocks 39 on a channel frame member 48, see Fig. 3, the channel frame having a slot 4| therein between the bearing blocks to accommodate the cam. Cam shaft 38 is rotated by an electric motor and reduction gearing unit 42 mounted on the side of the channel frame member 40. The shaft 38 extends beyond the bearing block 39 at the side opposite the motor unit 47. and mounts three cams 43, 44 and 45 for operating control switches 45, 41 and 48. Lever 34 is provided with a cam follower 49 intermediate its ends which engages the periphery of the cam 31. When the cam is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the platen I2 is pressed against the bottom of the mold 9; and when the cam is rotated 180 from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 the platen will be moved to an inclined position below the mold to open the bottom thereof.

The arrangement of the platen support, serpentine coil l9 and thermal element of a thermostat, later to be described in detail, is the same as that described and claimed in an application for Letters Patent of Dudley R. Cook filed concurrently herewith and entitled Refrigeration, now Patent No. 2,613,506.

In accordance with the present invention a construction and arrangement of elements is provided for supplying a cleaning liquid to the interior of the mold; agitating the cleaning liquid in the mold to thoroughly clean all surfaces of the cells therein; draining the cleaning liquid from the mold; and controlling the machine to discontinue an ice freezing and releasing operation and initiate a mold cleaning operation.

The cleaning liquid, such as water containing soap or a detergent, may be introduced into the mold 9 through the funnel tube 13 or through a similar but separate connection. The mold 9 is usually located in a suitable cabinet and enclosed in insulating material with the funnel tube 13 extending upwardly from the top of the mold above the insulation. By removing a top cover from the cabinet the cleaning liquid may be poured into the funnel tube l3 or if a separate connection to the exterior of the cabinet is provided the liquid may be introduced into the'mold without removing the top cover of the cabinet.

The agitator for agitating the cleaning liquid in the mold 9, and also for agitating the liquid to be frozen during an ice making operation, comprises a plate 50, see Figs. and '7, having perforations 5| therein underlying the cells H of the mold 9. The plate 58 is located in a recess 52 in the top of the platen l2 and mounted on the ends of pins 53 extending downwardly through bearing bosses 54 depending from the bottom wall of the platen. The lower ends of pins 53 are connected to a reciprocating frame 55, see

Figs. 4 and 5. Flexible cups 51 of a material such as rubber, or the like, surround the pins 53 and are clamped in recesses 58 in the bottom wall of the platen l2 by clamping rings 59. The flexible cups 51 are clamped between the top of the pins 53 and washers 60 by means of flat head machine screws 6| extending through countersunk holes in the perforated agitator plate 58 and washers 60 and screwed into tapped holes at the upper ends of the pins. Thus, the frame 55, pins 53 and agitator plate 50 are connected for reciprocation as a unit and the joints between the pins and bottom wall of platen I2 are sealed by the flexible cups 51.

Frame 55 is reciprooated by an electric motor '62 mounted on the bottom of the platen l2 and a shaft '63 connected to the motor 62 through a flexible coupling 64. Shaft 63 is journaled in a bearing '65 depending from the bottom wall of platen I2 and has a disk 65 at its outer end with an eccentric crank pin 51. Crank pin 61 projects into a longitudinal slot '68 in a depending flange '69 on the frame 55, see Fig. 6, and the pin and slot constitute a Scotch yoke connection for translating the rotary motion of the motor to reciprocation of the frame.

Cleaning liquid is drained from the platen I! after a cleaning operation by means of a manually operable drain cook 19 in the bottom wall of platen l2. The drain cock 19 may take a variety of forms and, as illustrated, is of a well known type having a tubular body with threads at one end screwed into a tapped hole in the bottom wall of the platen l2 and a manually operable valve member 1 I. With the valve member 11 in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 the drain cock is closed to retain liquid in the mold 9 and by manually rotating the valve member a quarter turn the drain cock is opened to drain cleaning liquid therefrom.

The operation of the ice making machine is controlled by a thermostat 12 having bulb 13 mounted on and responsive to the temperature of one side of the mold 9. Bulb 13' is connected to an expansible bellows 14 by a capillary tube 15 and the bellows is connected to operate a singlepole double-throw switch 16. The thermostatically operated switch 16 is connected in an electric control circuit including the operating elements of the machine and control switches previously described to automatically control the operation of the machine. The electric circuit comprises line conductors 11 and 18, see Fig. 8, and the agitator motor 62 is connected across the line for continuous operation as controlled by a line switch 19. Line conductor 18, beyond its connection with the motor '62, is connected to a. conductor 89 by a manually operable switch 8|. Compressor motor 25 is connected across the line between conductor and conductor 11 for continuous operation when manual switch 8| is closed. Conductor 80 also is connected to the pole of thermostatic switch 16. Low temperature contact 82 of switch 15 is connected to one side of the solenoid of selector valve 29 and the other side of the solenoid is connected to conductor 11. Low temperature contact 82 also is connected to the pole of switch 46 operated by cam 43 on cam shaft 38. Contact 83 of cam switch 46 is connected to one side of the platen-operating motor 42 by -a jumper 84 so that when the cam switch is closed a circuit is completed to lower the platen I2. When cam shaft 38 has rotated cam 43 will have opened switch 4-5 to hold the platen 12 in an open inclined position below the mold 9 and cam 44 will have .closedsw'itch 41; The opposite or'ihigh temperature contact 85 of thermostatic switch 12 is connected to switch 41.

position. High temperature contact 85 of thermostatic switch .16 also is connected to the .contact 81 of float-operated switch l8. Float-operated switch l8, in turn, is connected to the pole of switch 48 operated by the cam 45. Contact 88 of cam switch 48 is connected to one side'of the solenoid of water control valve andthe oppositeside of the solenoid is connected to conductor 11., In Fig. 8 the various. switches are showniin their relative positions for a mold cleaning operation at which time manually operable control switch 8| is open, thermostatic switch 16 isclosed .on the high temperature contact 85, cam switch 46 is'closed, cam switch 41 is open, floatswitch I8 is open due to the cleaning liquid in the mold and cam switch 48 is closed. By manually closing switch 8| the machineis automatically operated to supplyrwater tothe mold 9, refrigerate the mold to freeze liquid therein, open the platen l2 and heat the mold to release ice. therefrom and then repeat the cycle of operation. Bymanually opening the switch 8| the control discontinues the operationof, the machine to freeze liquid therein and release ice therefrom but. continues the agitator plate 50 in operation for a mold cleaning operation. One form of the invention having now been described in detail the modeof operation is explainedas follows. V x I 5." To initiate operation of the machine for an ice making'operation the line switch 19 and control switch 8| are manually closed, see Fig. 8. For purposes of description, let it be assumedthat the platen I2 is closed and the thermostatically operated switch is in the full line position illustrated in Fig. 8. Theagitator motor 62. and refrigerant motor 25 are thenlenergized to reciprocate the agitator plate 5|l,and operate the compressor 24, respectively. The solenoid of selector valve 29 is deenergized so that refrigerant is being supplied from, receiver 20 to the, Coil l9 through conduit 2| and expansion valve22 and float operated switch l8 and cam operated switch 48 are closed. The solenoid of water valve |51;is'

energized to open the valve so that water orother liquid to be frozen .is delivered from supply pipe |4 through the funnel tube |3 into the interior of the mold 9.. When the proper amount of water has been supplied tothe mold 9, flo-at, |1 will open switch l8 to deenergize the solenoid of water valve IE to close the latter. Evaporation of refrigerant in coil l9 at low pressure and temperature refrigerates the mold 9 and the water is splashed against the walls of the cells ll of the mold by the reciprocating agitator plate 50 and freezes thereon;- The freezing'operation continues until the cells H are completely filled with ice.

insulator causing the temperature of the mold 9 to decrease until the pole of thermostatic switch 16 is moved into engagement with low temperature contact 82, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8. A circuit then will be completed through the solenoid of selector valve 29 to open the valve and connect the by-pass conduit 28 to the coil l9. Gas at high pressure and temperature then flows from the compressor 24 to the coil IE! to heat the mold 9. Simultaneously, a circuit is completed As ice builds up in the cells n it acts as an from low temperature contact .82 of the thermostatic switch 16 through cam switch 46 and jumper 84 to energize the platen motor 42. Platen motor 42 operatingthrough reduction-gearing rotates camshaft 38-which permits thepla'ten 12 to move downwardly to; an inclined position. below the. mold 9. After of movementof cam shaft 38, cam 43 opens switch 46 to stop the operation of platen motor 42 and hold the platen l2 in its loweredinclined position below the open bottom of the mold v9 andcam 44 closes switch 41. The heating of the mold 9 melts the ice-at its contacting surfaces with the mold so'that the ice may fall by gravity from the mold andonto the inclined platen |'2. w i

When the ice is released and falls from-the mold 9, the temperature of the latter rises rapidly, due to the heated gas in the :coil l9, and'operate'szthe pole of thermostatic switch 16 from the. low temperature contact 82 into engagement with the high temperature contact 85. .A-circuit is then completed through the then closed switch 41 to energize platen motor 42 which operating through the cam 36 moves the platen [2 into closed position againstthe bottom of the mold. 9, asshownin Fig. 2. At the end of the closing movement of the platen I 2, cam 45 closes switch 48 which'completes a. circuit from'high temperaturecontact 85.througli float operated switch |8 to energize the water valve |5 to again supply water tothe mold 9. Thus; an vice freezing and releasing cycle is completedanda new cycle automatically initiated. z

When it is desired to clean the moldi9, control switch 8| is manually opened with the platen I2 in the closed position illustrated in Eig. 2. Opening of switch 8| deenergizes the refrigerant motor 25, the selectorswitch 29, the platenmotor42 and the. water valve l5 to discontinue anice freezing and; releasing operatiom .With neither refrigerant nor heating gas being supplied to coil Hi, the; mold 9 is subjected topthe temperature of the ambient and holds switch 16 to the full.

line position'illustrated in Fig.,8. A cleaning liquid such as soapy water or detergent. is then poured through ,the funnel tub l3 into theinterior of the mold 9. The, motor 62 continues in operation and operating through theshaftfiland Scotch yoke-61 and 68 reciprocates the frame 55 and agitator plate 50 connected thereto through the pins 53. Reciprocation of the agitator, plate 59 splashes the cleaning liquid against all surfaces ofthe cells l'l. After theagitator plate 50 has been operated for asufiicient period-'oftime to thoroughly clean all surfaces ofthe moldll, the valve 1| of the drain cook 19 is opened-:to drain the cleaning liquid fromthe' mold. i-Preferably, fresh wateris thereafter suppliedzth'rough the funnel tube |3 which is also agitated by the plate 50 to rinse th cleanedmold; i After'aicleaning operation has been completed the drain cook 10 is'closed -byturning valve.1| and switch 8|"is manually operated to closed position.- I Refrigerant motor .25, solenoid valve, "platen motor '42 and water valve |5 are then energized'as con trolled by the various switches in the control cirtion provides for cleaning the mold of an ice making machine by actively agitating a cleaning 31, lever 34 and pushrod struction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation in this respect, the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An ice making machine having surfaces on which liquid is frozen and ice released therefrom, means for cleaning said surfaces comprising a structure cooperating with the surfaces for retaining a cleaning liquid in contact with at least a portion of said surfaces, reciprocating mechanism for actively agitating the cleaning liquid to cause it to continuously contact and bathe the surfaces, anda connection for draining the cleaningliquid from the machine.

2. In an ice making machine, a mold in which liquid is frozen and ice released therefrom, and means .for cleaning the mold comprising mechanism for closing the mold, a connection for supplying a cleaning fluid to the interior of the closed" mold, reciprocating mechanism in the mold for agitating the cleaning fluid to thoroughly clean all surfaces of the mold, and a connection for draining the cleaning fluid from the closed mold.

3. In an ice making machine, a mold, elements cooperating with said mold to close it and freeze liquid therein or open it and release ice therefrom, a connection for supplying cleaning fluid to the interior of the closed mold, reciprocating mechanism in the closed mold for agitating the cleaning fluid to thoroughly clean all surfaces of the mold, a connection for draining the cleaning fluid from the closed mold, and means for controlling the operation of the elements to discontinue an ice making operation and initiate a mold cleaning operation.

4. In an ice making machine, a mold, a connection for supplying liquid to the interior of the mold, means for agitating the liquid in the mold, means for successively cooling the mold to freeze liquid therein and heating the mold to release ice therefrom, control means for discontinuing cooling and heating of the mold while continuing the operation of the agitating means for cleaning the mold, and a connection for draining cleaning liquid from the mold.

,5. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open bottom, a movable platen for opening and closing the bottom of the mold, a connection for supplying liquid-to the interior of the mold, a heat transfer system cooperating with the mold to successively cool the mold to freeze liquid 6 therein and heat the mold to release ice therefrom, a, perforated plate in the platen, driving means for reciprocating the perforated plate to agitate the liquid in the mold, control means for stopping operation of th heat transfer system and continuing the operation of the agitator driving meansfor cleaning the mold, and a drain cock at the bottom of the platen having a manually operable valve for draining cleaning fluid from the mold.

6. In an ice making machine, a mold having an open bottom, a movable platenfor opening and closing the bottom of the mold, a connection for supplying liquid to the interior of the mold when closed by the platen, means for agitating liquid in the mold, and a manually controlled connection for draining liquid from the mold.

7. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open bottom, a platen for closing the bottom of the mold, a perforated plate on the platen, driving means on the platen for reciprocating the perforated plate to agitate the liquid in the mold, and a drain cock on the platen for draining liquid from the mold.

8. In an ice making machine, a mold having cross partitions forming a plurality of cells and an open bottom, a movable platen for opening and closing the bottom of the mold, a perforated plate mounted for reciprocation on the platen, driving means on the platen for reciprocating the perforated plate, a heat transfer system cooperating with the mold to successively cool the mold to freeze liquid therein and heat the mold to release ice therefrom, control means for stopping operation of the heat transfer system and continuing the reciprocation of the perforated plate for agitating a cleaning fluid in the mold, and a connection for draining cleaning fluid from the mold.

9. In an ice making machine, a mold having an open side, a movable platen for opening and closing the open side of the mold, an agitator for agitating liquid in the mold, a heat transfer system cooperating with the mold to successively cool the mold to freeze liquid therein and heat the mold to release ice therefrom, automatic control means responsive to the temperature of the mold for regulating operation of the platen and heat transfer system to freeze liquid in the mold and release ice therefrom, and a manual control for modifying operation of the automatic control to discontinue operation of the heat transfer system while continuing operation of the agitator for cleaning the mold. v

CLYDE E. PLOEGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,327,414 Willcox Jan. 6, 1920 1,757,033 Wolcott May 6, 1930 1,839,731 Baum Jan. 5, 1932 2,493,900 Schaberg et a1 Jan. 10, 1950 

